Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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127. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has developed funding templates to promote cross-agency and cross-Department collaboration, particularly in the context of positive ageing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19864/24]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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With the aim of supporting healthy, active, and autonomous ageing throughout the life-course, the National Positive Ageing Strategy (2013) provides a framework for whole-of-government policy-making and service-delivery in partnership with the community and voluntary sector. Envisioning a society in which the equality, independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment, and dignity of older persons are pursued at all times, the Strategy aims to address the range of social, economic, and environmental factors that affect people as they age.

The cost-neutral National Positive Ageing Strategy does not contain specific actions. Rather it is a high-level strategic document that outlines a number of national goals, objectives, and action areas to provide direction in relation to the issues that need to be addressed to promote positive ageing. Accordingly, my Department has not developed the type of funding templates referred to by the Deputy.

However, as the Deputy will be aware, in fulfilment of the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Government has established an independent Commission on Care for Older People, which is being supported by a secretariat from my Department. The Commission, which met for the first time on 21st March 2024, is chaired by Professor Alan Barrett (Chief Executive Officer, Economic and Social Research Institute) and is comprised of independent experts.

The Commission is charged with examining the provision of health and social care services and supports for older people and with making recommendations to the Government for their strategic development. Subsequently a cross-departmental group will be established under the auspices of the Commission to consider whether the supports for positive ageing across the life course are fit-for-purpose and to develop a costed implementation plan for options to optimise these supports.

Engagement and collaboration with stakeholders will be a central component of the work of the Commission. To support the work of the Commission, a Reference Group of non-governmental and civil society organisations and other key stakeholders working in the area, including those with lived experience is being formed. The Reference Group will engage in an advisory capacity with the Commission and subsequently with the cross-department group which will be established under its auspices. The inaugural meeting of the Reference Group will be held on 18 June 2024.